Preznit thinks Pakistan is Arab

[shecky]

Bush's words can be taken to mean some sense, I think. However, McClellan's correction clearly indicate that the prez's words were a screwup. While the fault for the screwup isn't likely that of the prez, it's perfectly in character for Bush.

What does this all mean? Maybe his speechwriters need to be a bit more careful. Not a huge deal.

 

[joe1347]

Sorry, you can try to sell this, but I ain't buying. Yeah, he's Mr. Malaprop, but if I had a nickel for every time I saw "Muslim" conflated with "Arab" here, I'd have... well, at least fifty nickels. And we're all supposed to be smarter than he is, and we're not speaking off the cuff.

You're really stretching here; it's a common slip, and you know it.

My guess is that the only way to measure whether Bush's slip-up matters is to find out whether mainstream Pakistani's were offended (who cares what pro or anti-bush americans think). With the press censorship in Pakistan, I'm sure how we could find out. Didn't see anything mentioned is aljazeera - but I think aljazeera is primarily for the Arab world.

http://www.aljazeera.com/

 

[CapelDodger]

My guess is that the only way to measure whether Bush's slip-up matters is to find out whether mainstream Pakistani's were offended (who cares what pro or anti-bush americans think).

Bush's actual homilies are probably not a priority to Imran Khan (as mainstream as they come) who's been detained, along with hundreds of other democrats, to prevent planned demonstrations against the Bushian emrace of a military dictatorship. "Freedom and moderation" contrasts with the actual detention of moderates.

Pakistan is surely the longest-established failed-state on the planet. India really should be given the go-ahead to absorb it, thereby solving many problems. One fewer nuclear states, for a start.

 

[fishbob]

Because McClellan has the intelligence of, of, of, well, I can't think of any fauna or even flora I'd want to insult so let's go to the non-photosynthetic Eukaryotes and put him somewhere there.

The man has to stand up in front of the press and the world as the laughingstock of the nation day after day after day. Spare him a little sympathy.

. . . . OK, that's enough, back to your regularly scheduled topic.

 

[Cain]

Bush's words can be taken to mean some sense, I think. However, McClellan's correction clearly indicate that the prez's words were a screwup. While the fault for the screwup isn't likely that of the prez, it's perfectly in character for Bush.

Exactly. Bush's remarks, strictly speaking, do not offend reality. However, the question is: did Bush intend such a strict interpretation? Probably not, and that presumption is confirmed by McCellan. It's not all that dumb by Bush standards.

With that business aside I'm looking for a source confirming that at a 2003 Superbowl party in the White House, Bush learned the distinction between Sunni and Shi'ite. Something to the effect, "You mean you're not the same?" Someone mentioned it on this board not a few months ago, but I can't find it.

 

[Mephisto]

Because McClellan has the intelligence of, of, of, well, I can't think of any fauna or even flora I'd want to insult so let's go to the non-photosynthetic Eukaryotes and put him somewhere there.

I think you've got it right, manny, but when you combine McClellan's intelligence with Dubya's lack of intelligence (and inability to articulate) we're lucky he didn't do worse. Frankly, I can't see what we're arguing about - the man is a moron, surrounded by idiots (and liars).

 

[Kerberos]

Because McClellan has the intelligence of, of, of, well, I can't think of any fauna or even flora I'd want to insult so let's go to the non-photosynthetic Eukaryotes and put him somewhere there.

I think you mean Prokaryotes, or possibly Archaea. Non-photosynthetic Eukaryotes would include all the fuana, you so desperatly want to avoid offending.